In early 2014, Arif signed a career management deal with Nora Collective. While working on his long-play debut, Arif released one of the biggest urban hits of the summer of 2014; “Lowkey” and in January 2015, he released the radio-friendly “Kanke Gi Opp” (feat. Magnus Eliassen), the first single from the April 2015 album “HighEnd / Asfalt” - raising the expectations for his album debut even further.
Background:
In the wake of the critically acclaimed EP, along with the national hit “Gal”, Arif was named Untouched Artist of The Year - a prestigeful aknowledgement for new, independent artists, presented by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). After his performance at Norwegian music festival by:Larm, Arif was hailed as a rising star by VG, P3, Dagbladet and Aftenposten - some of Norway’s largest media outlets. This paved the way for a career step in the right direction when major label EMI/Warner Music Group signed Arif in early 2013. He released his well recieved sophomore-EP “Aldri & Alltid” in the fall of 2013, which had a more dark and serious theme than his debut release.
Arif’s music and impressively energetic live performances, combined with his charismatic appearance, has helped earn Arif gigs at the biggest festivals, his own t-shirt collection together with the Varner Group, as well as several radio and TV performances, including a guest role in TV show “Helt Perfekt” with comedian Thomas Giertsen.
Mandem
Arif Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Når Madcon lagde "Beggin", når Karpe Diem kom og redda verden
Satt jeg i en kjellerleilighet med mor'n min ned på Haslum
Tenkte: "Fuck dette livet, vi fortjener mye bedre"
Kom inn uten noen rapbeef eller [?] snakk
Ha'kke no' manager fra Idol, jeg sa nei takk
Vi lagde lego som var som en paraply
Som når det regner på meg, drypper det på mine Gs
Fuck outta here den shitten der er corny
Pass it, TP, Nord og ne, Jørgen, åpna dører vår tur
Midt i tåken av O, S, L, O
Røyker på no' grønt og lilla sånn som Donatello
Åpner kjeften hennes som en tannlege
Fucker med neger, bare lev
Alle mine homies kom opp uten hjelp
Busy med å synge, snakker om deg
Du vet da vi kom og vi lagde vår vei
Akkurat som de har noe å si
Fresh to death, som jeg var en jævla lyd
For vi ser det de ikke ser, ikke ser
Overalt ting, ikke tenk, ikke tenk
Lukk øyne, bare ri med en nigga
Hva kan dem, hva kan dem si?
Fuck alle, for vi lever nå
Hva kan dem, hva kan dem si?
Mens de lå og sov, så går vi på jobb
Mamma vet det godt
Lukk øyne, bare ri med en nigga
Flammer, flammer, flammer
Endelig har dem åpna Kolsås banen
Fra Skullerud til Haslum, de kjenner hele saken
Damer syns jeg er digg, jeg spør hun naken (god damn!)
Jeg retta håret for å passe inn
Men det stod fortsatt neger på det norske passet mitt
Kjøpte bestemor en Jeep Cherokee
Kjøpte onkel'n min en van, neger'n ville kjøre taxi
Befinner meg i byen min, byen min
Kjører rundt i sykkel'n min, sykkel'n min
For en enkel mann, enkel glede
Enkeltmannsforetak, men jeg har et par gjeller
Fatter'n var en OG, grønn 300 benzo
Shitten var så slick, kunne hett Lorenzo
Etter; enda en classic "Kjølig"
High-End / Asfalt, enda en classic
Shit, nigga
Fucker med neger, bare lev
Alle mine homies kom opp uten hjelp
Akkurat som de har noe å si
Fresh to death, som jeg var en jævla lyd
For vi ser det de ikke ser, ikke ser
Overalt ting, ikke tenk, ikke tenk
In the song "Mandem," Arif reflects on his humble beginnings and how he and his group have overcome various obstacles to achieve success. He references two other Norwegian groups, Madcon and Karpe Diem, who have also achieved success in the music industry. Arif talks about his determination to succeed despite not having a manager or any backing from a reality show like Idol. He states that he and his group have worked hard to make a name for themselves without relying on "bondelåter" or corny songs that are inspired by the Olympics.
Arif highlights the importance of his friends and how they have come up together without any assistance. He mentions that people may talk about them, but they will continue to do what they are doing regardless of what others say. In the second verse, he talks about his personal experiences growing up in Norway as a black man. Despite trying to fit in by straightening his hair, he echoes that he is still referred to as a "neger" (the Norwegian word for the n-word). He mentions how he has bought his grandmother a Jeep and his uncle a van, but he has had to work as a taxi driver. However, he is still grateful for what he has achieved and takes joy in the simple things in life such as riding his bike around the city.
Overall, "Mandem" is a song about resilience, hard work, and overcoming challenges. Arif is proud of his roots and is determined to uplift his community by showing them that anything is possible with hard work and a positive attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Ja, ja, ja
Arif starts the song by saying 'yes' three times.
Når Madcon lagde "Beggin", når Karpe Diem kom og redda verden
Arif remembers the time when Madcon made their hit song 'Beggin' and when the Norwegian hip-hop duo Karpe Diem came and 'saved the world' of Norwegian music.
Satt jeg i en kjellerleilighet med mor'n min ned på Haslum
Arif remembers sitting in a basement apartment with his mother in the neighborhood of Haslum.
Tenkte: "Fuck dette livet, vi fortjener mye bedre"
Arif expresses his frustration with life and believes that he and his mother deserve better.
Kom inn uten noen rapbeef eller [?] snakk
Arif says that he didn't come into the rap scene with any beef or unnecessary talk.
Ha'kke no' manager fra Idol, jeg sa nei takk
Arif says that he didn't want a manager from the Norwegian reality TV show 'Idol'.
Vi lagde lego som var som en paraply
Arif compares the music they made to a Lego umbrella, meaning that it was versatile and adaptable.
Som når det regner på meg, drypper det på mine Gs
Arif says that when he's getting wet in the rain, his 'Gs' (homies) also get wet.
Ha'kke no' bondelåter, ha'kke no' OL-låter
Arif asserts that he doesn't make any songs about farming or the Olympics (which are common themes in Norwegian music).
Fuck outta here den shitten der er corny
Arif dismisses those kinds of songs as 'corny'.
Pass it, TP, Nord og ne, Jørgen, åpna dører vår tur
Arif names some of his friends and collaborators and says that they opened doors for him and his career.
Midt i tåken av O, S, L, O
Arif sings about being in Oslo (the capital of Norway) and feeling lost or disoriented ('tåken' means 'the fog').
Røyker på no' grønt og lilla sånn som Donatello
Arif says that he smokes weed that is green and purple (like the superhero ninja turtle Donatello).
Åpner kjeften hennes som en tannlege
Arif talks about opening a woman's mouth like a dentist (which can have sexual connotations).
Fucker med neger, bare lev
Arif encourages people to have sex with black people and just live their lives.
Alle mine homies kom opp uten hjelp
Arif boasts that his friends (homies) made it without any help.
Busy med å synge, snakker om deg
Arif says that he's too busy singing to talk about someone else.
Du vet da vi kom og vi lagde vår vei
Arif reminds listeners that he and his friends made their own path in the music industry.
Akkurat som de har noe å si
Arif scoffs at people who try to bring him down or criticize him.
Fresh to death, som jeg var en jævla lyd
Arif describes himself as fresh (cool) and compares himself to a sound.
For vi ser det de ikke ser, ikke ser
Arif claims that he and his friends see things that others don't see (or choose to ignore).
Overalt ting, ikke tenk, ikke tenk
Arif says that there are things everywhere (i.e. opportunities or experiences) and encourages people not to overthink them.
Lukk øyne, bare ri med en nigga
Arif tells people to close their eyes and just go with the flow (ride) with him.
Hva kan dem, hva kan dem si?
Arif asks a rhetorical question, wondering what others can say about him or his success.
Fuck alle, for vi lever nå
Arif declares that he doesn't care about anyone else and that he's living in the moment.
Mens de lå og sov, så går vi på jobb
Arif sings about how while some people are sleeping or being lazy, he and his friends are hard at work.
Mamma vet det godt
Arif implies that his mother knows how hard he's working and how successful he is.
Flammer, flammer, flammer
Arif repeats the word 'flames', possibly implying that his music is hot.
Endelig har dem åpna Kolsås banen
Arif is excited that a train line called 'Kolsåsbanen' has finally opened.
Fra Skullerud til Haslum, de kjenner hele saken
Arif says that people in the areas of Skullerud and Haslum (where he grew up) know what's up (i.e. they know about him and his success).
Damer syns jeg er digg, jeg spør hun naken (god damn!)
Arif brags about women finding him attractive and saying that he'll ask them to get naked (using a curse word to emphasize his confidence).
Jeg retta håret for å passe inn
Arif admits that he used to straighten his hair to fit in with the norms of society.
Men det stod fortsatt neger på det norske passet mitt
Arif reflects on how he still has the word 'neger' (which is a racial slur in Norwegian) on his passport, despite being born and raised in Norway.
Kjøpte bestemor en Jeep Cherokee
Arif talks about buying his grandmother a Jeep Cherokee (which implies that he has money to spend).
Kjøpte onkel'n min en van, neger'n ville kjøre taxi
Arif gave his uncle a van, but he jokingly says that his uncle would rather drive a taxi (which is a common job for many immigrants in Norway).
Befinner meg i byen min, byen min
Arif sings about being in his hometown (Oslo) and feeling at home.
Kjører rundt i sykkel'n min, sykkel'n min
Arif says that he rides around on his bike (which could imply that he's humble or environmentally conscious).
For en enkel mann, enkel glede
Arif says that he's a simple man who finds joy in simple things.
Enkeltmannsforetak, men jeg har et par gjeller
Arif mentions that he's self-employed (enkelmannsforetak) but that he has a couple of bills to pay (gjeller).
Fatter'n var en OG, grønn 300 benzo
Arif describes his father as an OG (original gangster) and mentions that he used to drive a green Mercedes-Benz 300.
Shitten var så slick, kunne hett Lorenzo
Arif says that his father's car was so stylish that it could have been called 'Lorenzo' (which implies that he knows a lot about cars or is interested in them).
Etter; enda en classic "Kjølig"
Arif mentions one of his songs called 'Kjølig' and refers to it as a classic.
High-End / Asfalt, enda en classic
Arif mentions another one of his songs and also calls it a classic.
Shit, nigga
Arif ends the song with an exclamation of surprise or excitement (using a curse word and the word 'nigga', which could be controversial).
Writer(s): Aksel Carlson, Arif Salum, Filip Kollsete
Contributed by Brody K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Selina Jeanette
on Flexnes
Where is the french part?